Today's Gospel - February 22, 2012 with Reflection

Ash Wednesday

1^st READING - Joel 2:12-18

P S A L M - Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17

R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

2^ND READING - 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 2 When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 16 “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

SABBATH

RENEWAL BEGINS WITH BASICS All across the Christian world, the season of Lent begins today. Taken from the Old English word lencten, which literally means “springtime,” Lent challenges us to consider renewing ourselves as Mother Nature renews herself annually in a cycle of seasons. In the Spanish-speaking world, Lent is called Quaresma, indicating that this consists of 40 days of intensified spiritual exercises to prepare for the annual week-long commemoration of Jesus’ saving passion, death and resurrection. Today’s liturgy points out that spiritual exercises call us to look back into the basics of our life. The cross is traced on our forehead to remind us of this basic mystery of our faith. The ashes on our forehead serve to tell us about the passing nature of our life and all things in this world. The Gospel proclamation speaks about prayer, fasting and almsgiving, considered the primordial pillars of Jewish devotional life. Three times in the Gospel, Jesus invites us to enter into the secret, for this is what the Heavenly Father sees. Prayer, more than a simple reference to personal and communal moments of meditation and contemplation, embodies the full score of our relations and faith in God. The late Fr. Thomas Green, Jesuit professor on spirituality, loved to remind us in his classes at the Loyola School of Theology that “prayer” is “pray-er,” or “the person in prayer.” Fasting is not just about food and water intake. It means an examination of our appetites for material things. It calls us to simplify our lifestyles and invites us to re-evaluate our attachments and priorities in life. Almsgiving is but an expression of something broader: our love and capacity to manifest love through generous sharing with others, especially the poor. It makes us ask ourselves: How open am I to bless others with the time, talent and treasure that God has blessed me with? The journey of 40 days in Lent begins in our hearts and progresses with concrete, particular, personal resolutions to be more of what we could be!  Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP REFLECTION QUESTION: Recall the most memorable Lenten experiences you have had in the past. What made these Lenten experiences memorable? What specific fruits did you reap from them? Start drafting your Lenten program for this year. Lord Jesus, may the next 40 days bring me closer to fulfilling Your will for my life. St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us. Do you want to receive this in your email?  To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com. Lots of surprises await.